Starting-switch.



S. J. LEVEEN.

STARTING SWITCH. APPLICATION FILE-D OCT. 15, 1913- 1,161,233. Pat'nted Nov. 23, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 1- S. J. LEVEEN.

STARTING SWITCH. APPLICATION fILED OCT. I5. 1913.

1,161,233. Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

- 5 SHEETS SHEET 2.

68 jzygnfan, Y A ,d wai? JjGVVZ/ f fl 'a S. J. LEVEEN.

STARTING SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15.1913- 1,161,233. Patented Now-23, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- S. 3. LEVEEN.

STARTHMG SWHCH.

APPLICATiON FILED ocT.15. 1913.

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Patente Nov. 23, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

I To all whom may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SWAN J. LEVEE N, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TRIO MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STARTING-SWITCH.

Application filed October 15, 1913.

Be it known that I, SWAN J. Levnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting Switches, of which the following is a specitication.

The present invention relates to an improved construction of switch, and particularly to a switch adapted to service in connection with starting of smaller sizes of motor, as, for example, up to capacities of approximately five horse-power. However, it will'presentl y appear that the features of invention herein set forth and claimed are not restricted to switches intended for the foregoing sizes or capacities of motor, and, in fact, that said features may be used in switches intended for other service than motor starting.

Under ordinary circumstances, the smaller of motor may be started by connecting their terminals directly to the line or source of electrical supply without the necessity of using a starting rheostat. In such cases, the starting current is generally considerably in excess of the running current. Even when a starting rheostat is used itfrequently happens that the starting current is ot greater value or intensity than the normal running current. In either case, that current which is drawn during the startoperation is of abnormal value. By

'the starting operation, but it is also so constructed that, after the motor or other device has come up to speed, or has attained that condition in which it is drawing only a current of normal value, the protective (lel'lttf may be thrown into service, so that thereafter the motor or other current con- Specification of Letters Patent.

on of this fact, it frequently happens Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 795,314..

suming device and the line will be protected by the protective devices.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the switch and the operating mechanism whereby it is manipulated that it isphysically impossible to establish the connections in such manner as to include the protective devices in the first instance, thereby making it incumbent upon the operator to first throw the connections into that position wherein the protective devices are cut out. be performed to cut the protecting devices back into service.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the switch and its operating mechanisms that the various electrical contacts can be conveniently established and broken in an .oil bath, thereby efficiently insulating these parts at all times, as well as insuring an instantaneous extinguishing of the are when the circuit is opened.

A still further object is to so construct the various contacts and operating mechanisms that the switch can be conveniently arranged with either one, two, three, or any desired number of poles, thereby adapting the various features of the invention to use with single or polyphase currents, or with direct current as desired.

A still further object of the invention is to so construct the various operating mechanisms that, the contact carrying or circuit establishing devices will always be under a spring tension of such nature that, as soon as the operating handle or other device is manipulated to a slight extent, the spring tension devices will operate to return the parts to their initial position. This will insure that, in the circuit opening process, the contacts will not he rei stablished and maintained at the point where the protective devices are cut out, but willinsure on the other hand that, once the opening movement commences, it will be carried through to completion, thus completely opening the circuit and breaking the current.

Another object of the present invention is to so construct the containing or inclosing structure that the various electrical connections to the switch can be most conveniently made to the protective devices, such, for example, as the fuses. In this connectiomthe various circuits and contacts. are so related that when the switch stands in its initial or Thereafter, a further operation may back ol' the upper compartment.

open position the terminals of the protectlve devices will be dead, thus making it safe at such time to manipulate the protective device, for example in replacing a fuse.

Nevertheless, the inclosing structure and other parts are so related that as long as the operating handle stands in the. full on or running position the inclosing structure will be locked, thus making it impossible for the operator to gain access to the protective devices, for any purpose whatsoever until the switch has been thrown to its oil position.

Other objects and uses will appear from the various features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

in the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the assembled switch structure with the tion of the arrows; Fig. l is a front view' of the assembled structure with the operating handle, contacts, etc. in running position, but with the lower portion of the switch structure and certain of the contacts in section to better show the interior construction; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the interior of the upper portion of the switch structure, showing particularly the. arrangement of the terminal connections-and protective devices.

Referring to the several figures. the switch structure in its entirety comprises two sections or compartments (3 and 7, best illustrated in Fig. 3. The upper compartment (3 serves to inclose the fuses orother proteclii'e devices. while the lower compartment 7 serves to inclose the contacts and operating mechanism. with the exception of the handl aml starting loch. Between these two compartments there is a partition 9 of insulating material. such as slate or the like. said partition preferably being carried by or mounted in the lower portion of the. up per compartment. lhis insulating partition supports all of the stationary contacts or supporting devices. as well as serving to divide the two compartments lrom each other.

The upper coun'xartment is preferably" made from a U-shaped sheet metal inclosure 9. which serves to provide the side walls and .\nother se tion of sheet metal '10 extends across the front ends ol the U-shaped section. and i secured thereto in any uitable manner, as

flanges 12.

by means of spot welds or the like. As shown particularly in Figs. 1, :2, and 3, the side walls of the upper compartment are preferably higher in their rear portions than in their front portions, and their upper iently attached to the U-shaped member as by means of the screws 13. A door l i is hinged to the cover ll by the hinges 17 said door having the downwardly depending side flanges 16 which embrace the side walls of the U-shaped member between them. as best shown in Fig. 4. The. upper edge of the front. 10 is preferably flanged rearwunfdly to provide the lip 17 against whicl'i. the front edge of the door rests. and a lock 18, carried bv the door. is adapted to engage the under 1'." 4i n l1 .1

lace or this up -oi. normall locking tic door ('losed. This lock 191s conveniently attached to the lower end of an eye 19. For thls purpose, the stem of this eye extends through the door. or through a bushing 20 carrird thereby. and has itslower end split to provide a pair oi fingers 21'which engage a somewhat elongated hole in the lock 18, as best shown in Rig. 5). The entire switch structure. may be conveniently supported on a wall or post by means of a pair of crosswise extending bars or plates 22 secured to the hack ot the U-shaped member.

In the particular arrangement illustrated. the insulating partition is supported on flanges 23 which are in turn SllpfXM'ted by or inturned from the side walls of the U-shaped structure. as best shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, screws-'or the .like 24 holding the partition rigidly in position. A pair of angles'or the like depend from the flanges 2 and serve to support a box-like structure 26 which incloses the lower or contact compartment of the switch. Screws or the like 27 serve as a ready means for attaching this box-like structure to the flanges 25. so that the boxlike structure can be readily removed for purposes of examining or adjusting the contacts, or for the purpose. of renewing or re plcnishing the oil. This box-like structure serves as the pan or container for the oil which protects the contacts and serves to establish the oil breaks. and it will presently appear that all of the contacts are suflieientl low down tobe thoroughly covered over by the oil.

It is preferred that the front plate l") and the car side of the U-shaped member should inc-losing These in turn may be conven edges of its front and rear sides. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. i, the angles 25 are set in a slight distance from the side faces of the U-shaped member, so that when the box-like structure is set'in position its upper edges 30 and 31 will lie flush with the outer faces of the U-shaped member. I

In the particular construction illustrated, I have provided three sets of contacts, and correspondingly three fuses or other protective devices. This arrangement is well adapted to use in connection with three phase current, but, as previously stated, the invention is in nowise limited to this number of sets of contacts.

Corresponding to each set of contacts there is a pair of bushings or the like 32 and 33 in the cover 11. The bushings 32 are for the incoming oryline wires, while the bushings 33 are for the outgoing wires which lead to the motor or other device to which the current is supplied. In the lower rear portion of theupper compartment, there is mounted an upstanding connector 34 corre spending to each of the bushings 32, and in the particular arrangement illustrated, each of these connectors is carried by an L-shaped bar 35 which is secured toa crosswise extending insulating baror rod 36 which, in turn, is mounted on the rear portion of the insulating partition 8. This arrangement is-best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. Corresponding to each of theoutgoing bushings 33 there is a connector 37, and these connectors in turn are carried by the L-shaped bars 38 which run down into and are secured to the terminal blocks 39. These terminal blocks are made of insulating material, such as porcelain or the like, being open only on their front and top sides, and being mounted in turn on' the insulating partition 8. Corresponding to each of the terminal blocks 39 is another terminal block 40 set over near the front edge of the insulating partition 8, and likewise having its rear and top sides open. These terminal blocks serve as mount ings for the clips 41 into which fusesor other protective devices 42 may be inserted in the customary manner. The terminal blocks39 and 40 serve as an etficient means for thoroughly insulating from each other the exposed clips and conducting portions intowhich the fuses are inserted, so that there is no danger of arcing over from one conductor to another. Furthermore by setting the terminal blocks 39 and 40 in the forward portion of the upper compartment 6, they are easily accessible through the door 14, and it is not necessary fo r, the operator to reach back far enough to touch any of the live contacts 3 in manipulating either the contacts 37 or the fuses.

In the lower compartment 7, there is mounted or supported a contact 43 correisponding to each of the incoming line wires.

These contacts are preferably mounted in an upstanding position, such as best illustrated. in Figs. 2 and 3, and for this purpose each is conveniently carried on the forward end of a rod or bar 44 of conducting material. All of the rods or bars as are carried-by an insulating block 45 which extends across the, rear portion of the compartment 7, and is conveniently secured to the rear portion'of the insulating partition As a convenient means of securing each bar is in place, and for securing the corresponding bar 35 in place, and for joining both of these bars together, a bolt or the like as may be extended up and down through the insulating blocks 36 and 45 and through the insulating partition, as best shown Fig. 3. This bolt, therefore, serves to deliver the current to the bar 44:. It will thus be noted that the con? tacts 43 are alive as long as'the contacts are connected to the source of electrical sup- Corresponding to each of the contacts at is another downwardly extei'iding contact which in turn is carried by a rod or bar d8. of conducting material. All oft-he rods or bars 48 are supported by a crosswise extending bar of insulating material WlllClLiS supported on theinsulating partition, and

- a bolt or the like 50, extends through each rod or bar 48, and thecorresponding bar 38, and serves to hold the bars 6L8 and 38 inposition and to establish electrical connec-' tion between them. It will be noted that when an electrical connection is established between each of the contacts l7 and the cor responding contact 43, the wire connected to the corresponding connector 37 is electrified without the necessity of the current passing through the fuse.

Corresponding to each of the contacts 4:3 is adownwardly extending contact 51,- preferably in the form of an L-shaped bar of conducting material. The contacts 51 in ..turn are carried by a bar or bloclt of insulating material 52 which is supported by the forward portion of the insulating partition, :1 bolt 'or the like 53 serving to secure each contact 51 and the corresponding" fuse clips in place, and serving also to establish electrical connection betweenthem. It will be noted that whenever electrical connection is established between a contact :3 and the corresponding contact 51, but not with the contact a7, -the.. corresponding connector 37 will be electrified through the fuse, or other protective device. I

Ihave provided means for establishing electrical connection from each of thecontacts 43 either to the corresponding contact 47 or to the corresponding contact 51. V] hen the first form of connection is established, which I shall designate a starting connec-. tion, the fuses or other protective devices LOC are cut out or bridged so that the starting 130 current does not need to pass through them. On the other hand when the connection is established by Way of a contact 51, the fuses or other protective devices are cut into service, and thence forth will serve to protect the circuits of which they constitute a part. As a convenient means of establishing these various connections, i provide a verticaily movable bar of insulating materi l 54 which carries a U-shaped contact member 55 corresponding to each of the contacts Each U-shaped member has the upstanding contact arms and 57, the former of which may engage either the contact 47 or the contact 43, or both of said contacts simultaneously. The upstanding contact arm 57 on the other hand always rides against the downwardly depending contact 51. The normal or open circuit ion oi the bar at is the up position, as shown in Fig. 1. When in this position, no connection is established to the contacts e13, and. therefore, current is not supplied to the inmor or other consuming device. The starting position of the bar 5% is that illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2, wherein it will be noted that, although the contact 51 is electrified, still a connection is established directly from each of the contacts 43 to the corresponding contact 47, thus supplying the current directly to the motor withouthaving to pass through the fuses. in this way, the fuses are bridged or shunted. during the starting operation. The running position is that shown in dotted lines in 2, or in full lines in Fig. in which it will be seen that the connection to the contacts t? has been broken, so that the current must pass to the motor by \vayof the fuses or'other protective devices. i

It will be noted that when the circuit breaks on the opening operation the break is always between the U-shaped member 5;; and the corresponding contact 43. lhis break takes place comparatively low down in the compartment 4', and therefore well under the surface of the oil therein'contained. For this reason, the break accomplished in the most etiicient and satisfactory manner, and with the leastpossible amount of burning. i'iowever, in case it should be desired to renew any the contacts 13, such renewal can be easily effected when the switch stands in its idle position, because at such time said contacts are not obstructed or interfered with by any of the other contacts. This fact is well illustrated in Fig. 1.

It is desired to permit the maximum range of adjustaliility or adaptability in the movements of the bar bl. so as to insure that the contacts will always be established in the most natural and cili -tire manner. For this purpose. this bar i. so supported that it can have a c rtain amount of rotary :uljustmcnt 'ing block 45.

ed between each of the plates should that be necessary or desirable. Adjacent each end of the bar 54 there is mounted a swinging arm 58 pivoted to the insulatefi'ecting this pivotal connection, I extend a rod 59 the entire length of the block 4:5 and behind the same, and the arms 58 are pivoted on said rod, being held in place by cotter pins or the like 60, shown in Figs. 1

and 2. A pair of hooks or the like 61 eX- tend through the block 45, and serve to secure the rod to it.

The forward ends of the bars 58- are.

25 is an operating rock shaft 61%, one end of which projects outside of the casing and carries the operating handle (35. This handle may be provided with a button 66 of customary form. Above the upper ends of the bar 5% the operating rockshaft carries a pair of crank arms or the like (37. These crank arms are extended through holes in the operating rock shaft and have their outer ends (38 bent at an angle to serve as journals for connecting links (59 which establish connection from the crank arms to the pins 63 which are carried bythe ends of the bar 54. It will thus be seen that as the operating rock shaft is rotated the bar 54 will be raised or lowered, as desired. Corresponding to eachof the crank arms 67 is a triangular-shaped plate 70 which is loosely mounted on the operating rock shaft, and one arm extending down slightly beyond the bent portion 68 of the corresponding crank. This portion 68 extends through the plate 70, a cotter pin or the like 71 serving to hold the link and plate in position on the end of the crank. The other arm 72 of the triangular-shaped plate is adapted to strike or engage a stationary abutment. as, for example. the (airrcsponding angle 25, and thus serve to limit the rotating morement of the operating rockshatt and crank. 'A washer or the like 73, best shown in Fig. i. is mount- 70 and the corresponding angle. and serves to hold said plate up against the crank arm. The arrangement just descrilied is such that the crank (37 and the triangular plate 70 do not have to be tightly fitted to the shaft in order to cause them to u'operly perform their As a convenient means of.

,the medium of the links 69, and the chief function of the triangular-shaped plates is to prevent the cranks from slipping up and down in the holes-0t the operating rock shaft, and to serve as stops to limit the forward movement of the rock shaft. By using this construction, it will be seen that both of the holes which accommodate the cranks can be accurately drilled parallel to each other, and then the cranks can be inserted with definite assurance that they will operate in unison for the control of the movement of the bar 54.

A pair of springs 7 4 tend to raise the arms 58 for the purpose of restoring the bar 54 to its initial position. The parts are so proportioned that by the time the triangularshaped'plates perform their function of limiting rotation of the operating rock shaft a toggle effect is produced. as best shown in Fig. 3, so that the springs will hold the contacts locked in the position illustrated in said figure. However. as soon as the operating rock shaft has been forced back through a. small angle, the tendency of said springs will be reversed, and the bar 54 will be thrown up quickly and positively to open the circuit and restore the parts to their initial or open circuit position.

It is desired to provide means for temporarily but positively arresting the movement of the bar 54 during a starting opera tion when said bar reaches the position shown in Fig. 2. which is the starting posi tion. In the present arrangement I have illustrated such means as in the form of a mechanism or device which operates in connection with the operating handle (35. but manifestly any other suitable arrangement can lre used. in the arrangement illustrated the handle is provided with a lug or catch portion 75. )n the side of the inclosing structure. there is pivoted a triangular shaped plate 76. the pivotal point being at 77, and said plate is provided with an outstanding abutment or barrier 78 which at times interferes with the movement of the handle by reason of the engagement of the lug 75 therewith. Pins or the like 79 and do serve to limit the swinging movement of the triangular-shaped plate in both directions, although the pin 80 may be dispensed with if desired.

The plate 76 is of such shape and is pivoted at such a point that when it stands in its normal position. as shown in Fig. 1. the lug '75 will strike against the barrier 79 when the handle hasbeen mov'cd up to the starting position, and by reason of the presence of the pin 79 the swil'iging movement of the plate will be arrested at such time so that it will be impossible to throw the starting han dle farther forward in order to establish the running connection. In Fig. 2, I have shown by the dotted lines 81 the position of the plate 76 corresponding to that shown in Fig. l-that is, the normal position. If, after the handle has been thrown into the position shown in Fig. 2, and the motor or other device has been allowed to come up to speed, so that the normal operating current is reached, the handle be suddenly forced back a slight distance, the plate 76 will swing or oscillate over into the position shown by the dotted lines 82 of Fig. 2, in which position the barrier 78 will not interfere with the movement of the lug 75. Thereupon the handle may be thrown clear over to running position. It will be seen that in order to reach or attain the running position, it was necessary to bring the handle into the position shown in Fig. 2, and to arrest it in such position, thus preventing the operator from throwing it clear over to the running position which would subject the fuses or other protective devices at once to the starting current.

In order to lock the door against opening when the handle stands in running position,

l have provided a lip or lug 83 on said door which lip or lug is adapted to be engagedby the lug 75 of the operating handle when the latter is thrown into running position. lhe engagement of the lug 7 5 with the lug 83 will not be broken until the toggle connec 'tion has passed its center. so that assurance is had that the switch will travel clear over to the open position when it is desired to open the door in order to reach the fuses.

In order to prevent endwise movement of the bar 5-1. and in order to better guide the same in. its vertic: l movements. 1 have provided the slots or grooves 84, best shown in Fig. 4, in which ride the contacts 51 and It will be noted that in the process of changing over from the starting to the running connections the circuits to the motor or other current consun'iing device are not opened, but that on the other hand these circuits remain unbroken. so that the current supply also remains unbroken. This is a very desirable feature in a starting switch for any purpose. but particularly in a starting switch which is used in connection with a. motor. Frequently the motors are started up under load. so that even a .monicntary pause in the supply of current will allow the motor to drop back in speed a cmisiderablc amount, and therefore cause the current dcmand to be abnormally large when the switch is thrown to the running position. This disadvantage is, of course. overcome in switches embodying features of my invention wherein the current supply is unbroken. ()r, for example, it is extremely desirable to maintain the current supply to a synchronous motor during the operation of changing the starting switch over from the starting to the running position, inasmuch as a break in the current supply at such time might allow the motor to fall out of step. It will also be observed that the foregoing advantage of changing over from one set of connections to the other without opening the circuit is obtained with a sliding contact, and also within the oil bath, so that sparking, etc. is reduced to a minimum.

It will be understood that I do not in any wise limit myself to the features of construction illustrated and described herein, except as may be called for in the claims, but I include within the scope of my invention any equivalent constructions operating in an equivalent manner to produce equivalent re sults.

I claim:

1. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line terminal, an outgoing delivery terminal, a protective device, an inclosure within which said protective device is mounted, a door for giving access to the protective device within the interior of said closure, said protective device being normally electrically disconnected from the incoming line terminal, means for electrically connecting said protective device to the incoming line terminal, a spring tending to restore said connecting means to initial or unconnected position, means-for retaining said connecting device in operated or running position, and means for locking said door against opening while said connecting device remains in operated or running position.

2. In a starting switch, the combination of an iIlCOming line terminal, an outgoing delivery terminal, fuse clips adapted to the reception of an electric fuse, an inclosure within which'said clips and fuse are mounted, a door in said inclosure for giving access to said clips and fuse. said clips being norinally electrically disconnected from the incoming line terminal, means for establishing an electric circuit, including the incoming line terminal, fuse clips and fuse, and means for locking said door against opening while said circuit is established.

3. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line terminal, an outgoing delivery terminal, a protective device, an inclosure within which said protective device is mounted, a door for giving access to the interior of said inclosure for the purpose of reaching the protective device, said protective device being normally electrically disconnected from the incoming line terminal, a toggle actuated switch mechanism for establishing an electrical circuit, including the incoming line terminal and the protective device, a spring for returning said toggle switch to initial or open circuit position 1,iei,ass

wherein the protective device is electrically disconnected from the incoming line terminal, and means for locking said door in closed position when the toggle mechanism stands in closed circuitposition.

4. In a starting switch, the combination 'ofan incoming line terminal, an outgoing delivery terminal, a protective device, an in closure within which said protective device is mounted, a door within said inclosure for giving access to the protective device, said protective device being normally electrically disconnected from the incoming line terminal, means for establishing an electric circuit, including the incoming line terminal and said protective device. and means for locking said door while said circuit is established.

. 5. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line contact, a starting contact, and a running contact, a movable contacting member adapted to establish electrical connection from the incoming line contact either to the starting contact or to the running contact alone, a spring normally holding the contacting member in initial or open circuit position, an operative rock shaft, a toggle connection from the operative shaft to the contacting member, a handle for rotating the operative rock shaft; a door for giving access to the interior of the structure, and a portion on the handle ada ted to engage a portion on the door for locking the door against opening before the toggle action is reversed.

6. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line contact, a starting contact, and a running contact, a contacting member adapted to place the incoming line contact in electrical connection either with the starting contact or with the running contact alone, a spring normally holding said contacting member in initial or open circuit position, an operative rock shaft. a tog le connection from the operative rock shaft to the contacting member. means for limiting the rotary movement of the operative rock shaft when the toggle action has reversed, a door for giving access to the interior of the structure, and means for locking, said door against opening while the toggle action is reversed.

7. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line contact, a starting contact,

and a running contact opposite to both of said contacts, an insulating block adapted to travel-between the running contact and the starting and incoming line contacts, a contact carried by said block, a spring normally holding the insulating block in initial or open circuit position, an operative rock shaft, a toggle action from said operative rock shaft to the insulating block, means for limiting the rotary movement of the operative rock shaft when the toggle operation has reversed, and a handle for operating the rock shaft.

8. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line contact, a starting contact,

and a running contact, an insulating block adapted to travel between the running contact and the starting contact or the incoming line contact, a 'contact carried by said block, a spring normally holding the insulating block in initial or open circuit position, an operative rock shaft, a toggle action from the operative rock shaft to the insulating block, and means for limiting the rotary movement of the rock shaft when the toggle operation has reversed.

9. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line contact, a starting contact parallel thereto, and a running contact opposite to both of said contacts, an insulating block adapted to travel between the running contact and the starting contact and incoming line contact, a contacting member carried by said insulating block, a spring normally holding the insulating block in initial or open circuit position, an operative rock shaft, a crank carried thereby, a link from said crank to the insulating block,and means for limiting the rotary movement of the rock shaft when the crank and link have passed dead center.

10. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line contact having a contact face, a starting contact having a. contacting face in alinement with the contactingface of the incoming line contact, a running contact having a contacting face opposite to the contacting face of the incoming line contact, an insulating block adapted to travel between the incoming line contact and the running contact and in the direction of their'contacting faces, a contacting member carried by said insulating block and adapted to establish electrical connection either between' the incoming line contact, the running contact and the starting contact, or between the incoming line contact and the running contact alone, a spring for normally holding the insulating block at the initial or open circuit position, an operative rock shaft, a crank carried thereby, and a link connection frm the crank to the insulating block.

11. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line contact having a contacting face, a starting contact having a contacting face in alincment with the contacting face of the incoming line contact, a running contact having a contacting face opposite to the contacting face of theinco niing line contact, an insulating block adapted to travel between the incoming line contact and the running contact and in the direction of their contacting faces, a contacting member carried by said insulating block, a spring normally holding the insulating block in initial or open circuit position, and a toggle action to said insulating block for forcing the same against the tension of the spring to a position where electrical connection is established between theincoming line contact and the running contact where the toggle action reverses, whereby the spring tends to hold the insulating block in such position.

12. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line contact having a contacting face, astarting contact having a contacting face in line with the contacting face of the incoming line contact, a running contact opposite theinconiing line contact, an insulating block adapted to travel in the direction of the said contacting faces and between the incoming line contact and the running contact, a contact carried by said block and adapted to establish electrical conneotion between the incoming line contact and the starting contact, or only between the incoming line contact and the running contact, a spring normally holding the insulating block in initial or open circuit position,

means for forcing the insulating block against the tension of the spring to carry the contacting member into position to establish electrical connection between the incoming line and the starting contact, or between the incoming line contact and the running contact, and means for positively arresting the movement of the insulating block in its forward direction when it reaches a position to establish connection from the incoming line contact to the starting contact.

13. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line cont. at having a contact face, a starting contact having a contacting face in line with the contacting face of the incoming line contact, a running contact having a contacting face opposite to the contacting face of the incoming line contact, an insulating block adapted to travel between the incoming line contact and the running contact and in the direction of their contacting faces, a contacting member carried by said insulating block and adapted to at times establish electrical connection between the incoming line contact the running contact and the starting contact, or between the incoming line contact and the running contact alone, a spring normally retaining said insulating block in position where the contacting member is out :of engagement from the incoming line contact, and means for forcing said insulating block against the tension of said spring to carry the contacting member into engagement with the incoming line contact.

14. In a starting switch, the combination of a plurality of electrical contacts having parallel contacting faces, an insulating block adapted to travel between said contacts in the direction of their contacting faces, a U-shaped contact carried by said insulating block and having its arms in engagement with parallel contacting faces, and a pivotal mounting for said insulating block to permit the same to travel with a firm and even contact of the U-shaped' cont-actor against the parallel contacting faces.

15. in a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line terminal, an outgoing delivery terminal, a protective device, an incoming line contiict electrically connected to the incoming line terminal and having a vertical contacting face, a starting contact electrically connected to the outgoing-delivery terminal and having a vertical contacting face in alinement with the contacting faceof the incoming line contact, a running contact electrically connected to one side of the protective device and having a vertical contacting face opposite to the contacting face of the incoming line contact, a vertically movable insulating block adapted to travel between the incoming line contact and the running contact, a U-shaped contact carried by said block and adapted to simultaneously engage the incoming line contact and the running contact when the insulating block is in running position, and adapted to simultaneously engage the in coming line contact, the starting contact, and the running contact when the insulating block is in starting position, and a pivotal mounting for said insulating block to permit the U-shapcd contact carried thereby to accommodate itself to a firm engagement with both the incoming line contact and the running contact.

16. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line terminal, an outgoing delivery terminal, a protective device, an in coming line contact having a vertical contacting face and in electrical connection with the incomingline terminal, a starting contact electrically connected to the outgoing line terminal and having a vertical contact ing face in alinement with the contacting face of the incoming line contact, a running contact having a vertical contacting face opposite to the contacting face of the incoming line contact, an electrical connection from the running contact to one side of the protective device, an electrical connection from the other side of the protective device to the outgoing line terminal, and a vertically movable contact block adapted to travel between the contacting faces of the incoi'ning line contact and of the running cont act.

17. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line terminal, an outgoing delivery terminal, a protective device, an in coming line contact electrically connected to the incoming line terminal, a starting contact mounted at a higher elevation than the incoming line contact and electrically connected to he outgoing delivery terminal, a running contact electrically connected to one side of the protective device, an electrical connection from the other side of the protective device to the outgoing delivery terminal, and a vertically movable contact adapted to establish electrical connection from the incoming line contact either to the starting contact or to the running contact, whereby said movable contact stands at a higher elevation than the incoming line contact when in idle position to facilitate access to the incoming line contact when in such position, a

18. In a. starting switch, the combination of an incoming line terminal, an outgoing delivery terminal, a protective device, an'upwardly extending line contact electrically connected to the incoming line terminal, a starting contact mounted above the incoming line contact, and electrically connected tothe outgoing line terminal, a running contact electrically connected to one side of the protective device, an electrical connection from the other side of the protective device to -the outgoing line terminal, a movable contact adapted to establish electrical connection from the incoming line contact either to the starting contact and the running contact or to the running contact alone, and an oil bath immersing all of Said contacts.

19. In a starting switch, the combination of an incoming line terminal, an outgoing delivery terminal, a protective device, an upwardly extending line contact electrically connected to the incoming line terminal, a downwardly depending starting contact mounted above the line contact, and electrically connected to the outgoing delivery terminal, a downwardly depending running contact electrically connected to one side of the protective device, an electrical connection from the other side of the protective device to the outgoing delivery terminal, and a movable contact adapted to place the incoming line contact in electrical connection with the outgoing delivery terminal either direct by way of the outgoing line contact, or only by way of the contact connected to the protective device.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination of an incoming line terminal, an outgoing delivery terminal, and a protective device, of a traveling contact adapted to first establish connection from the incoming line terminal direct to the outgoing delivery terminal, and afterward from the incoming line terminal to theoutgoing delivery terminal only through the protective device when said movable contact is moved in a given direction, the lastmentioned connection bein established prior to the breaking of the first mentioned connection.

21. In a device of the class described, the

" combination with an incoming line terminal,

an outgoing delivery terminal, and a protective device, of a traveling contact adapted to ,first establish connection from the incoming .line terminal direct to the outgoing delivery terminal, and also to the outgoing delivery terminal by Way of the protective device, andafterward=to establish connection from the incoming line terminal to the outgoing delivery terminal only by Way of the protective device when moved ina given direction, and means for positively arresting the traveling contact after the first mentioned conmotion has been established and before the last mentioned connection is established.

SWAN J. LEVEEN. Witnesses:

JAMES F. MURPHY, N. A. LARSON. 

